PROSTHETIC SOCKET AND SOCKET LINER WITH MOISTURE MANAGEMENT CAPABILITY

• US 20140379097A1
• Filed: 06/20/2014
• Published: 12/25/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/21/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LIM Innovations Inc.
• Original Assignee: LIM Innovations Inc.
• Inventors: HURLEY, Garrett Ray, Williams, Jesse Robert
• Granted Patent: US 9,468,542 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 623/33
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/7812 Interface cushioning members placed between the limb stump and the socket, e.g. bandages or stockings for the limb stump
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/80 Sockets, e.g. of suction type
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/7818 Stockings or socks for the limb stump cosmetic coverings A61F2002/5001
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/805 having an air valve
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/807 having a vacuum reservoir chamber

Abstract

A moisture management liner device for a prosthetic socket may include an elongate, cup-shaped, elastomeric member and multiple fluid transport strips. The elastomeric member may include a first material and may extend from an open proximal end to a substantially closed distal end. The substantially closed distal end may include a fluid exit aperture to allow fluid to pass out of the liner device. The fluid transport strips may include a second material and may be disposed at spaced-apart intervals around a circumference of an internal surface of the elastomeric member, over at least a distal portion of the elastomeric member. The fluid transport strips may be configured to facilitate passage of fluid out of the liner device through the fluid exit aperture.

Claims

1. A moisture management liner device for a prosthetic socket, the liner device comprising:

an elongate, cup-shaped, elastomeric member, comprising a first material and extending from an open proximal end to a substantially closed distal end, wherein the substantially closed distal end comprises a fluid exit aperture to allow fluid to pass out of the liner device; and

multiple fluid transport strips, comprising a second material and disposed at spaced-apart intervals around a circumference of an internal surface of the elastomeric member, over at least a distal portion of the elastomeric member, wherein the fluid transport strips are configured to facilitate passage of fluid out of the liner device through the fluid exit aperture.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the elastomeric member comprises a contiguous layer.

3. The device of claim 1, further comprising an array of radially-directed pores extending from the internal surface to an external surface of the elastomeric member.

5. The device of claim 3, further comprising an outer fluid transport substrate disposed over at least a portion of an external surface of the elastomeric member to facilitate passage of fluid out of the liner device through the pores.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the fluid transport strips comprise a wicking fabric.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein in the fluid transport strips comprise a breathable mesh fabric.

8. The device of claim 1, further comprising at least one of a valve or a pump attached to the device to facilitate unidirectional fluid flow out of the liner device.

9. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

a distally projecting outlet in fluid communication with the fluid exit aperture; and

a prosthetic socket support element, comprising a centrally positioned annular locking mechanism clampable around the distally-projecting outlet.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein the distally projecting outlet is also in fluid communication with a fluid residing in an interfacing layer between the liner device and a prosthetic socket to which the liner device is attached.

11. The device of claim 9, further comprising a reservoir, comprising:

an inlet into which the distally projecting outlet of the liner device drains; and

an outlet, comprising a one-way valve biased toward allowing fluid to escape the reservoir.

12. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

a reservoir coupled to the liner device to capture fluid from the device and from an interfacing space between the device and the residual limb; and

a pump in communication with the reservoir and configured to draw fluid from the reservoir.

13. The device of claim 1, wherein at least a proximal portion of the internal surface of the elastomeric member is configured to form an airtight seal with the residual limb.

4. The device of claim 4, wherein the array of radially-directed pores is disposed proximal to the longitudinally aligned fluid transport strips.

14. A moisture management liner device for a prosthetic socket, the liner device comprising:

an elongate, cup-shaped, elastomeric member, comprising a first material, an internal surface and an external surface, and extending from an open proximal end to a substantially closed distal end, wherein the substantially closed distal end comprises a fluid exit aperture to allow fluid to pass out of the liner device;

a fluid transport substrate disposed over at least a distal portion of at least one of the internal surface or the external surface of the elastomeric member, wherein the fluid transport substrate comprises a second material; and

an array of radially-directed pores extending through the elastomeric member from the internal surface to the external surface, to allow fluid to pass out of the liner device.

15. The device of claim 14, wherein a first layer of the fluid transport substrate is disposed on the external surface of the elastomeric member, and wherein at least some of the pores extend through the first layer of the fluid transport substrate.

16. The device of claim 15, wherein a second layer of the fluid transport substrate is disposed on the internal surface of the elastomeric layer.

17. The device of claim 16, wherein at least some of the pores extend through the elastomeric member, the first layer and the second layer.

18. A moisture management liner device for a prosthetic socket, the liner device comprising:

an elongate, cup-shaped, elastomeric member, comprising a first material and extending from an open proximal end to a substantially closed distal end, the elastomeric member further comprising;

an internal layer;

an external layer; and

a fluid exit aperture at the distal end to allow fluid to pass out of the liner device;

a fluid transport substrate disposed between the internal and external layers of the elastomeric member along at least a distal portion of the elastomeric member, wherein the fluid transport substrate comprises a second material; and

an array of radially-directed pores extending through at least the internal layer of the elastomeric member to allow fluid to pass from an internal surface of the internal layer to the fluid transport substrate.

19. The device of claim 18, wherein at least some of the pores extend through the external layer of the elastomeric member.

20. The device of claim 18, wherein the fluid transport substrate comprises a wicking fabric.

21. The device of claim 18, wherein in the fluid transport substrate comprises a breathable mesh fabric.

22. The device of claim 18, further comprising at least one of a valve or a pump attached to the device to facilitate unidirectional fluid flow out of the liner device.